Splenda's sweet on carton design

In November&#44 McNeil Specialty Products introduced at retail a no-calorie sweetener called Splenda&#44 a granular product packed into folding cartons containing either 1.9 or 3.8 oz&#44 which it says offers the “sweetness equivalent” of 1- or 2-lb of sugar for baking or cooking.

Also introduced at that time were Splenda packets in folding cartons holding 50 100 or 200 units to individually sweeten beverages.

The SBS cartons are printed offset in six colors plus varnish says a spokeswoman at New Brunswick NJ-based McNeil a Johnson & Johnson company. She would not reveal packaging suppliers or thickness specifications. Amparo Vasquez McNeil’s manager of public relations did credit package design to FutureBrand Coleman (New York NY).

The paper/film/ foil cartons for bulk offerings are overwrapped in printed polypropylene film. The individual packets are printed offset in three colors. “Splenda packaging materials were chosen to provide product freshness for our worldwide distribution process” says Vasquez. “The structural designs provide customers with ease of use and storage convenience.”

According to McNeil Splenda was introduced in ’91 and is currently used as an ingredient in more than 400 food and beverage products worldwide. Not until late last year however was the product available at retail where mass merchandisers nationwide sell it next to sugar at prices ranging from $1.50 to $7 depending on the variety. Splenda is marketed to people looking to cut down on calories as well as to diabetics. (JB)